"A practical supplier guide to adenosine (CAS 58-61-7, C10H13N5O4, MW 267.24, EINECS 200-389-9): the white crystalline nucleoside that serves both pharmaceutical manufacturing (antiarrhythmic and antiviral intermediates, ATP/cAMP feedstock) and cosmetic formulations as an anti-wrinkle, skin-smoothing functional ingredient. Covers the chemistry, solubility, pH and 2-8 C storage, and natural pairings with peptides, retinol, brighteners, emollients, humectants, and mild surfactants."
-Deshangchemical-chemechemi
Adenosine (CAS 58-61-7): The Nucleoside That Bridges Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Anti-Wrinkle Skincare
Walk the aisle of a Korean beauty store and you will see "adenosine" printed on serums and creams as a selling point. Step into a pharmaceutical raw-material warehouse and you will find the same molecule, adenosine (CAS 58-61-7), shipped in drums as a building block for heart and antiviral drugs. Few ingredients sit comfortably in both worlds, and that dual role is exactly what makes adenosine worth a closer look for anyone sourcing fine chemicals or building cosmeceutical formulas.
What adenosine actually is
Adenosine is a nucleoside: one adenine base joined to a D-ribose sugar through a beta-N9 glycosidic bond. Its molecular formula is C10H13N5O4 and its molecular weight is 267.24. Suppliers ship it as a white crystalline powder that is odorless, with a mild saline or slightly bitter taste and a specific rotation around -61.7° in water. It is freely soluble in water, soluble in ammonium hydroxide and dimethyl sulfoxide, and insoluble in ethanol. Those solubility numbers matter later, because they tell you where the material belongs in a formulation.
Structurally it is a small step from the bigger molecules your body runs on. Adenosine is the parent of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate), and SAMe, which is why it shows up wherever cellular energy and signaling are discussed. That biochemistry is the root of both its drug uses and its skin benefits.
Why buyers keep it on the list
The appeal is that one compound serves two very different industries without changing grade:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing. Adenosine is a starting material for adenosine arabinoside and a raw material for ATP, coenzyme products, and the cyclic AMP series. It is also used directly as an antiarrhythmic agent that can convert paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia back to a normal sinus rhythm, and it appears in antiviral drug synthesis.
- Cosmetic functionality. In topical products adenosine is used as an anti-wrinkle functional ingredient. It is recognized in several markets as a permitted cosmetic active, and formulators value it for improving the look of skin smoothness and supporting a conditioned, calm complexion.
- Supply flexibility. Because it is a well-established, naturally derived nucleoside, it fits both pharma documentation requirements and cosmetic clean-label positioning.
Where it earns its place in pharma
In pharmaceutical production adenosine is less a finished drug and more a key intermediate. The same high-purity powder that a skincare brand buys by the kilo is the feedstock a drug maker uses to build more complex actives. Its defined melting point (about 235.5 °C), known refractive index (1.907), and stable, water-compatible profile make it straightforward to spec, test, and release. Storage is the one point to respect: keep it at 2–8 °C, dry and away from strong oxidizing agents, and it stays stable through normal handling.
Where it earns its place in skincare
On the cosmetic side, adenosine is part of a small, trusted group of "functional" anti-aging ingredients. It is typically used at fractions of a percent up to low-single-digit percentages depending on the region and the claim being made. Because it is water-soluble, it drops into the aqueous phase of an emulsion or into a serum base without the solubilization headaches that oil-soluble actives create.
It also pairs naturally with the rest of a modern anti-aging bench. In an anti-wrinkle serum it sits well beside peptide actives such as Argireline (CAS 616204-22-9) and the GHK-Cu copper peptide (CAS 49557-75-7), both of which target expression and repair pathways from different angles. A vitamin A route can be built around vitamin A1 retinol (CAS 68-26-8) for renewal, while brightening is handled by alpha-arbutin (CAS 84380-01-8), glabridin (CAS 59870-68-7), or kojic acid (CAS 501-30-4), and antioxidant support comes from L-ascorbic acid (CAS 50-81-7).
For the body of the formula, a light emollient like squalane (CAS 111-01-3) carries actives without heaviness, a natural emulsifier such as soybean lecithin (CAS 8002-43-5) builds the emulsion, and a structuring agent like cetyl alcohol (CAS 36653-82-4) gives the cream its body. Humectancy can come from urea (CAS 57-13-6) and D-trehalose dihydrate (CAS 6138-23-4), while N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (CAS 7512-17-6) adds a moisturizing, barrier-supporting note. A small amount of ethylhexylglycerin (CAS 70445-33-9) covers preservation support. On the cleansing end, mild surfactants such as lauryl betaine (CAS 683-10-3), sodium lauroylsarcosinate (CAS 137-16-6), and lauryl hydroxysultaine (CAS 13197-76-7) keep the system gentle.
Handling and formulation notes
Adenosine is easy to work with compared with many actives, but three points decide whether a batch behaves:
- Phase placement. Put it in the water phase. It dissolves cleanly in water and in DMSO (handy for lab standards or transdermal work), but it will not go into ethanol-based systems without help.
- pH window. Aqueous solutions sit around pH 4.5–7.5, so match it to a formula that does not swing strongly acidic or alkaline.
- Cold chain. The 2–8 °C storage recommendation is not optional for long-term stability; plan warehouse and shipping accordingly, especially for pharma grades.
For buyers, the practical checks are CAS identity (58-61-7), assay, heavy metals, and a clean water-solubility result, plus documentation that supports the intended market. For cosmetic use, confirm the permitted level in your target region before setting the claim.
Quick specification snapshot
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 58-61-7 |
| Molecular formula | C10H13N5O4 |
| Molecular weight | 267.24 g/mol |
| EINECS | 200-389-9 |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Melting point | about 235.5 °C |
| Solubility | Soluble in water, ammonium hydroxide, DMSO; insoluble in ethanol |
| pH (3 mg/mL in saline) | 4.5–7.5 |
| Storage | 2–8 °C, dry, away from strong oxidizers |
Bottom line
Adenosine is one of those ingredients that does quiet, useful work in more than one industry. It is a pharmaceutical intermediate with a clear, documented role in cardiovascular and antiviral production, and a recognized cosmetic active for smoothness and conditioning in daily skincare. For a formulator or a procurement manager, that dual utility means one well-specified material can serve two product lines. When you source it, insist on verified CAS identity, consistent assay, and storage that respects the cold-chain recommendation, and adenosine (CAS 58-61-7) will do exactly what the specification sheet promises.
